Measurement of prompt D -meson production in p-Pb collisions at √sNN =5.02TeV

Abstract

The 𝑝𝑇-differential production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons 𝐷0, 𝐷+, 𝐷*+, and 𝐷+ 𝑠 and their charge conjugate in the rapidity interval −0.96<𝑦cms<0.04 were measured in 𝑝−Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy √𝑠𝑁⁢𝑁=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The nuclear modification factor 𝑅𝑝⁢Pb, quantifying the 𝐷-meson yield in 𝑝−Pb collisions relative to the yield in 𝑝⁢𝑝 collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, is compatible within the 15%–20% uncertainties with unity in the transverse momentum interval 1<𝑝𝑇<24 GeV/𝑐. No significant difference among the 𝑅𝑝⁢Pb of the four 𝐷-meson species is observed. The results are described within uncertainties by theoretical calculations that include initial-state effects. The measurement adds experimental evidence that the modification of the momentum spectrum of 𝐷 mesons observed in Pb-Pb collisions with respect to 𝑝⁢𝑝 collisions is due to strong final-state effects induced by hot partonic matter.